Hawaii Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, January 28, 1999

Sao to sign with Utah

By Pat Bigold, Star-Bulletin

Utah has secured a commitment from another Star-Bulletin all-state football player.

The Utes today received the nod from 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end William Sao, who played for Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Kahuku.

Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai made the announcement this morning.

Sao is the third Red Raider to commit to Utah.

Last month, Tavo Tupola, a 6-3, 192-pound all-state strong safety, and James Tupola, a 6-foot, 263-pound guard, said they picked the Utes.

Also in the Utah fold is St. Louis wide receiver Anthony Arceneaux.

Crusaders running back Noah Campbell (who was a 1997 all-state pick as a junior) and offensive lineman Sean Souza are said to have also committed to the Utes but no confirmation has been received from the players.

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Kahumoku in Gatorade
Circle of Champions

For the second consecutive year, Lily Kahumoku of Kamehameha Schools has been named the Gatorade Circle of Champions Hawaii high school girls' volleyball athlete of the year.

Kahumoku, a 6-foot-4 hitter/blocker, has verbally committed to play for the University of Hawaii in the fall. She is one of 48 athletes selected and is eligible for the regional and national award.

Also named to the Circle of Champions is Wahine recruit Jennifer Carey, a setter at Newport Harbor (Calif.) High. She is the California winner.

WAHINE SOFTBALL 17TH : The University of Hawaii women's softball team is ranked 17th in the USA Today/NFCA coaches preseason poll released yesterday.

This the sixth consecutive season that Hawaii, under coach Bob Coolen, has been ranked in the Top 25.

Hawaii is one of two WAC teams in the poll; the other is top-ranked and defending national champion Fresno State.

WAC members Utah and Colorado State both received votes in the poll but are not ranked.

UH SOFTBALL ALUMNAE GAME: The 17th-ranked University of Hawaii women's softball team will open its season Saturday with an exhibition game against an alumnae team.

Among those returning to play for the alumnae are former all-region selections Tracy Loo (1989-92) and Tamara Kaluau (1989-92) and three-time all-conference catcher Danelle Haia (1990-93).

The game is set for 5 p.m. at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. There is no admission charge.

The Wahine open the regular season with their Paradise Classic, Feb. 11-14. The field is comprised of Baylor, Cal State Fullerton, Loyola Marymount, Ohio State, Oregon and host Hawaii.

GRIFFIN AT NYU: Punahou graduate Dominic Griffin is the starting setter for the New York University men's volleyball team.

The freshman had 34 assists in the Violet's opening-match win over Sacred Heart last week; he had 33 assists in last week's loss to No. 17 Rutgers-Newark.

HAMMERHEADS TRIM ROSTER: The Hawaii Hammerheads indoor professional football team has made roster cuts down to 52 players.

The club will hold another tryout on Saturday at Cooke Field for those players who made the initial cuts.

Head coach Guy Benjamin expects to trim the roster to 30 players before league play begins in April.